Chapter 1

• One month after our wedding, my husband “died” in a yacht explosion.
• I became a widow pitied by all, yet mocked within the Vance family.
• Until a year later, when I heard that familiar voice speaking.
• It turned out my husband had murdered his twin brother for his true love and the inheritance, then assumed his identity.
• And I? Merely a disposable pawn in his flawless scheme.
• He thought I was a helpless orphan, easy to be trampled upon.
• But the one he humiliated wasn't a defenseless widow—I am the princess of the most powerful mafia.
• Soon, he'll pay a terrible price for this, as he begs on his knees for my forgiveness.
• ...
• [Gianna POV]
• "I'm really tired, Vincent."
• I stopped outside the study, hand on the doorknob, frozen in place.
• The voice belonged to Violet Croft.
• The fiancee of Damian, my husband's twin brother.
• But what name did she just mention?
• Vincent, my husband's name.
• "How much longer do we have to keep up this charade?" she sounded impatient, "I'm tired of this life, tired of mourning that dead man, your mother has been postponing our wedding because of grief..."
• "Don't worry, my dear." a deep voice came, "You'll soon be my rightful wife, pretending to be the elder brother is not difficult for me."
• My blood froze instantly.
• This voice—it wasn't Damian's.
• Damian always had a natural elegance when he spoke, his voice clear.
• But this voice had a hint of gloom and hoarseness that I was all too familiar with.
• My heart started pounding violently.
• It was Vincent—my husband.
• The man who "died" in the yacht explosion.
• I leaned against the cold marble wall outside, trembling all over.
• ...
• A year ago, to temporarily escape the endless arranged marriages in the family, I hastily married Vincent, whom I had a one-night stand with at the club.
• That night, we both drank a lot, and found attraction in the dim light.
• I hid my real identity, only saying I was a daughter of a common businessman.
• He was handsome and tall, my type, and being the second son of the Vance family made him a good match for an arranged marriage.
• The wedding was simple, with only necessary participants.
• So we quickly got married, becoming a new family.
• I thought I had found a temporary refuge, a man who could help me escape family politics temporarily.
• But just one month after marriage, he "died" on a yacht.
• The explosion happened late at night, said to be an accident caused by fuel leakage.
• Rescuers found some wreckage and his personal belongings, but there was no trace of his body.
• The staff said that he had probably turned into debris, eaten clean by fishes.
• I became an awkward widow in the Vance family.
• In this mansion, I endured the cold treatment of Mrs. Vance, and those sympathetic yet contemptuous glances.
• They all thought I was an outsider who coveted the wealth of the Vance family.
• They called me a jinx and insulted me.
• Ironically, today is Vincent's death anniversary.
• I should have been spending the whole afternoon in the cemetery, laying flowers at that empty tombstone.
• But as Mrs. Vance was preparing to leave, she suddenly had a heart attack, and the doctor said she was too agitated and needed rest.
• I had to rush back to the mansion to take care of her.
• And because of this, I stumbled upon this earth-shattering secret.
• ...
• Violet's voice was full of excitement:
• "I have good news to tell you."
• "What good news?"
• "I'm pregnant." Her voice was full of excitement because of joy, "We're going to have a baby!"
• There was the sound of a chair moving in the study, followed by footsteps.
• "Really?" Vincent's voice was filled with shock and joy, "Are you sure it's mine?"
• Violet giggled, "Of course it's yours, you idiot. I haven't slept with any other man, so... can we get married soon?"
• Suddenly, Violet thought of something and her tone became cold as she continued, "Hmph! Why is that woman still staying here? She's like a ghost, wandering around this house all day. I don't want to split the property with her in the future."
• "Don't worry." Vincent's voice was tinged with cruelty, "She will disappear soon. I've already had the lawyer prepare the documents."
• "What documents?"
• "The divorce agreement—and a sum of money for her to leave." He sneered, "Enough to make her roll far away and never appear in front of us again."
• "Will she agree?"
• "She has no choice." Vincent's tone became even more ruthless, "A woman from a small, helpless family, what else can she do besides accept?"
• I clenched my fists tightly, nails digging deep into my palms.
• The taste of blood spread in my mouth, and I realized that I had bitten my tongue.
• For a year, I had been a widow for a dead man.
• While he, in another identity, pretended to be his brother and enjoyed a sweet life.
• Treating me like trash that could be discarded at any time.
• "I can't wait." Violet's voice was malicious, "I want to be the true mistress of this family, no longer needing to pretend to sympathize with that poor widow."
• "Very soon, my dear," Vincent reassured her in a doting tone, "Now that Damian's identity has gained the support of the board, but I need time to fully control the company. Once everything settles down—"
• "Wait for what?" Violet interrupted him, "That woman has no idea of the truth. She thinks you're really dead."
• "Don't worry. Her family originally set her up with me for money. Her days of mourning at home are just confirming that Vincent is dead."
• "Soon, you will be the legitimate Mrs. Vance."
• Vincent's tone was full of pride.
• I felt a wave of dizziness.
• From the beginning, he had looked down on me. The initial affection and later marriage were all fake—a joke.
• And I was just a pawn in his game of replacing his deceased brother.